Psalm 104

Authorship

This Psalm is anonymous.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. In celebration of the Creator. (1-4)

A. Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great.

B. You are clothed with honour and majesty.

C. You cover Yourself with light as a garment.

D. You stretch out the heavens like a curtain.

E. You lay the beams of Your chambers in the water.

F. You make the clouds Your chariot.

G. You walk upon the wings of the wind.

H. You make Your angels spirits and Your ministers a flaming fire.

II. The creative power of God. (5-9)

A. You laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.

B. You covered it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

C. At Your rebuke they fled; at the voice of Your thunder they hasted away.

D. They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which You have founded for them.

E. You have set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

III. The creative provision of God. (10-26)

A. He sends the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills.

1. They give drink to every beast of the field.

2. The wild asses quench their thirst.

3. By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.

B. He waters the hills from His chambers: The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.

C. He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth.

D. He provides wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengthens his heart.

E. The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted:

1. Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.

2. The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.

F. He appoints the moon for seasons:

1. The sun knows his going down.

2. He makes darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth:

a. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

b. The sun arises, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.

3. Man goes forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.

G. O Lord, how manifold are Thy works!

1. In wisdom hast Thou made them all.

2. The earth is full of Thy riches.

H. So is this great and wide sea:

1. Wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.

2. There go the ships.

3. There is that leviathan, whom Thou hast made to play therein.

IV. All creation has in common: (27-32)

A. These wait all upon Thee:

1. That Thou mayest give them their meat in due season.

2. That they gather: Thou openest Thine hand, they are filled with good.

B. If You hide Your face, they are troubled.

C. If You take away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.

D. You send forth Thy spirit, they are created.

E. You renew the face of the earth.

F. Your glory shall endure forever:

1. You rejoice in Your work.

2. You look on the earth and it trembles.

3. You touch the hills and they smoke.

V. The psalmist’s response to the Creator and His creation. (33-35)

A. I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

B. My meditation of Him shall be sweet.

C. I will be glad in the Lord.

D. Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more.

E. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 104,17 cor בְּרֹאשָׁם G // err-graph: MT, α', σ', ε', ς', Hebr, S, T בְּרוֹשִׁים

Ps 104,35 הַלְלוּ־יָהּ {B}